CA: Governor to release details of schedule-First step toward Prop.59,fostering open government

Tokyo -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in an interview today that he will make public his daily schedule, a move that open government advocates say will provide an unprecedented look at how his administration determines public policy.

The governor said he will release a complete calendar of his first year in office, including whom he met with. His comments came just days after voters approved Proposition 59, which seeks to strengthen open records laws and follows a formal request by a media law group to make his calendar public.

Schwarzenegger said the decision was in keeping with a campaign pledge he made to provide voters a clearer picture of how state government works.

"We're going to let the public see,'' Schwarzenegger said, noting he had nothing to hide. "It's not like we've been meeting with terrorists or anything. ''

EMBRACING OPENNESS

GOVERNOR SAYS HE'S GLAD TO RELEASE HIS PUBLIC SCHEDULES

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/10172471.htm

By Dion Nissenbaum

Mercury News Sacramento Bureau

--snip--

California journalists sought for years to obtain the records, a quest that led to a major court battle in the 1980s that ended in 1991 with an appeals court blocking media access to former Gov. George Deukmejian's schedule.

Proposition 59 was designed to dilute that law and Schwarzenegger endorsed the measure.

``What do we have that we don't want anyone to see?'' the Republican governor said. ``I don't care if anyone knows how much I'm worth or how much money I have, any of that.''

In discussing his agenda as he heads into his second year as governor, Schwarzenegger also downplayed simmering speculation that he may urge voters to support creation of a part-time Legislature.

``It's really not a serious plan,'' said Schwarzenegger, who has periodically implied that he would push the idea after running into roadblocks in the Democrat-controlled Legislature nestled on the second floor of the Capitol.

``It just comes up periodically, and then I throw it into the fire just to keep it burning, just because it drives them nuts upstairs,'' he said.

--snip--

Governor says he'll release his daily calendar

http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/11408383p-12322679c.html

By Gary Delsohn -- Bee Capitol Bureau

--snip--

Schwarzenegger said he had no problem releasing the information, even though some members of his staff aren't comfortable with the idea.

"That's perfectly fine," he said. "It makes everyone say, 'Oh, my God, you have to release the schedule.' So what? What is in there?"

Rob Stutzman, Schwarzenegger's communications director, said aides are still going through his schedules and making sure no personal or security information will be released.

The schedules will reflect only meetings set up in advance and appearing on the governor's daily schedule, Stutzman said - not meetings that happen at the spur of the moment with friends or associates. "It's not a diary of the day," he said.

Schwarzenegger, who did a series of interviews with California and Japanese reporters just before a rally to promote tourism in the state, talked about a variety of issues he faces back home.

On his next budget plan, due in January, he acknowledged again that state spending is outpacing revenues and said he intends to close the gap without raising taxes but that cuts are needed.

This is too funny:

Asked about special interest influence, Schwarzenegger said he could not be bought.
"It's a character issue,'' he said. He noted he and his family have been visiting Disneyland for free for years, and the park even opens early so he can avoid crowds, but that wouldn't mean he would do special favors for Disney Corp.

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